French Ambassador: Brunei Can Play Role in Combating Islamaphobia

BRUNEI can play an important role in combating terrorism and Islamophobia by promoting its “moderate” brand of Islam, said the French ambassador to the Sultanate.

Loan Forgeron lauded the long-standing security relationship between the two countries, saying both parties shared close cooperation in counter terrorism and monitoring transnational borders.

“We know now the very violent context of our modern world. There are terror groups present in Malaysia and Indonesia, so it is very important to secure borders because Daesh (the Arab name for the terror group known as the ‘Islamic State’) is expanding everywhere, recruiting from this part of the world,” she said in a recent interview.

“Brunei has not been infiltrated by these groups because for a long time the government’s policies reflects and anticipates what could happen here.”

The envoy said police cooperation through training in security, narcotics and human trafficking continues to play an important role in the bilateral relationship between Brunei and France.

Forgeron said recent terror attacks in France by so-called ‘Islamic’ militants, has created a very troubling public image for Islam, with Islamophobia creeping into the mindsets of ordinary citizens.

“We have many Muslims in France, around 15 million and they live in peace with many other religions. But terrorist attacks could create a (misunderstanding). Some people equate Islam with terrorism… It is very important for us to show Islam is not synonymous with terrorism and Brunei is a good example of that,” she said.

“I want to develop this image of Brunei in France… His Majesty during his reign made many efforts to promote this image of peace, within ASEAN, with the Western countries and the rest of the world.”

DESPITE first making its appearance in the Sultanate during the 1940s, Kuih Mor continues to be a household favourite today as a tea time snack or festive treat particularly during Hari Raya Aidil Fitri.

Siti Norhafizah Hj Bagol, a final year student at Universiti Brunei Darussalam who researched on Kuih Mor as part of her Brunei Traditional Industry module, said the three-ingredient sweet treat may have existed in Brunei as early as the 1940s when padi was known to have been grown to make different food items.

Over time, the cookie has also become a popular door-gift choice often handed out at Malay weddings or gatherings, said Siti Norhafizah.

Made with flour, oil and granulated sugar which have been ground into a powder, the bite-sized biscuits have a crumbly texture and are coated with powdered sugar.

The age-old technique of making Kuih Mor by hand has however changed over the course of time, with many now opt…